Upper Crust

Four fantastic pizza spots in the city.

June 30, 2018

Photography Bluefish Studios

No matter what your pizza preference, chances are, you’ll find a spot in the city that caters to your taste. Whether you prefer a deep-dish pie or something thin crust, a variety of veggies or an assortment of meats, your perfect spot is out there. Our readers selected four great spots to enjoy the Italian staple.

Tony’s Pizza Palace

The fact that Tony’s Pizza Palace placed first in the Best Tried & True category in our 2018 Best Restaurants issue speaks volumes. It’s a northside staple, a spot passed down through the generations. And once you take a bite of a Tony’s pie, it’s not hard to understand the appeal.

Sal’s Deluxe is a classic choice — prosciutto, capicollo, tomato sauce, and bocconcini cheese. You have the option of creating your own pie, but when the Sal’s Deluxe is so perfectly balanced, why bother? And, if you’re going with the whole family, make sure to get the XL size — you’ll want all the slices you can get.

Panini’s Italian Cucina

Panini’s specializes in adding a bit of a twist to classics, and it pulls it off with finesse. If you prefer to keep things simple, go for the margherita plus — it’s a classic margherita with the addition of fresh tomato slices and feta cheese for a little extra tang. Or, sample the tried and true combination of chicken, pesto, ricotta, roasted red peppers, with the addition of banana peppers adding a little spice.

Or, if you’ve never met a meat lovers’ pizza you haven’t loved, the loaded Italian is a must try — generous portions of Italian sausage, capicollo, and meatballs top the pizza, which also swaps out the regular tomato sauce for a meaty Bolognese beef sauce. That’s right — there’s even meat in the sauce. Panini’s is not messing around.

Vaticano Cucina

We wrote about this spot on the south side back in our December 2017 issue, when it was a new addition to the city — and we’re still loving its wood fired pizzas.

Vaticano embraces its name, filling the space with frescoes and a massive pizza oven that seems transported straight out of Italy. And, while Vaticano has several pasta options and antipasti to kick off your meal, pizza is where the spot truly shines.

If you’re looking for a pizza that is unapologetically decadent, go for the St. Joseph — the pie is topped with cream shallot sauce, guanciale, Italian sausage, pecorino and two perfectly fried eggs on top. The richness means you may want to split this one. Or, opt for something a little lighter like the St. Vincent — a fresh, vegetable-packed pizza topped with pesto and fresh homemade ricotta.

The Holy Roller

For those who may have not ventured to Motor City to give the pie a try, Detroit-style pizza has a very thick crust, crisped around the edges with delicious browned cheese-y bits. While you can certainly opt for the classic pepperoni or even vegetarian options, the smoked salmon and goat cheese pizza is a must try for more adventurous eaters. The combination of smoked salmon, goat cheese, tangy capers, red pepper, sundried tomato, red onion and The Holy Roller’s signature cheese blend is a unique mix
of flavours.